For everyday portions in a limited space, start by comparing your available worktop space and the size of your dishes with a single-drawer air fryer. Two compartments are useful if you regularly cook a main and a side with different settings. For larger dishes, or if reheating and defrosting are your main priorities, compare what your oven or combination microwave can do before adding another appliance.
If you mainly prepare small quantities, a single drawer is a good place to start. However, measure the space you have in mind and check how much room you need to open the drawer and remove the basket: a small capacity doesn’t necessarily mean a compact footprint.
Two zones let you cook different foods at the same time, as noted by Que Choisir Ensemble. If they need different cooking times, check that the model offers separate settings and, if you need it, a function to synchronise the cooking end times.
A larger capacity or vertically stacked baskets may suit bigger dishes. Before choosing a model for your kitchen, compare its external dimensions, drawer access and the space needed for cleaning.
Start with the dishes you make most often, then compare their size and how you’ll prepare them with the space you actually have.
| What to consider | What to check | What I need |
|---|---|---|
| Space and capacity | Compare the width, depth and height with the space you have and check that the drawers can open. Also look at the basket shape and the size of your dishes: capacity in litres alone doesn’t tell you how much cooking space you’ll have. | I want to prepare my usual portions without leaving an appliance on the worktop that’s awkward to use. |
| One or two compartments | If you’re cooking two different foods, check that you can set the time and temperature independently. A synchronisation function can coordinate when they finish cooking; on some models, a removable divider lets you change the configuration. | Do I need to cook a main and a side at the same time, or do I usually prepare just one item at a time? |
| Cooking and versatility | Check the manual settings, the size of food the basket can hold and the recommended quantity per batch. Que Choisir Ensemble notes that limited cooking space restricts the amount you can prepare. | I want my everyday meals to fit in the basket, without assuming the air fryer will replace every use of my oven. |
| Cleaning | Check which drawers, racks and accessories are included, then consult the manual to see which are removable and dishwasher-safe. Consider how many parts you’ll need to clean after a meal. | If I use the appliance often, cleaning it needs to fit into my everyday routine. |
| Energy use and other uses | Compare the energy used for the same dish and a similar quantity, rather than looking at wattage alone. If you mainly want to reheat or defrost food, also check the functions of the appliances you already own. | I want to choose based on the food I actually cook, without assuming one type of appliance always uses less energy than another. |
A large capacity doesn’t tell you whether a wide dish will fit in the basket or whether there’ll be enough room to open the drawers. Que Choisir Ensemble points out that limited cooking space restricts the amount you can prepare.
Measure your worktop and compare the basket shape with your usual dishes before choosing a capacity.
Two zones are useful for preparing different foods at the same time, but they mean more parts to handle and you’ll still need to check the overall footprint.
If you usually cook just one dish, compare a single-drawer model or one with a removable divider too.
In tests published in 2024, Que Choisir Ensemble found that the air fryers tested used less energy than a mini oven to cook a quiche lorraine. That result doesn’t apply to every recipe or appliance.
Before comparing energy use, check the dish, quantity, preheating requirements and appliance used as the benchmark.
Dishwasher compatibility may apply to some removable parts without covering every accessory included with the model you choose.
Check the manual for the exact model to see which parts are dishwasher-safe and which need to be washed by hand.
These examples show different configurations to compare; features vary by model.
The range includes single-drawer models and two-zone configurations.
The Easy Fry range includes both single-drawer models and two-zone options.
The range includes a model with two vertically stacked baskets.
These models range from smaller capacities to two-drawer appliances for preparing two parts of a meal. Before choosing, compare their footprint and basket configuration with the way you plan to use them.
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The stated 1.4 L and 3.8 L containers let you choose a size to suit what you’re cooking; don’t assume they can be used at the same time. The description gives approximate dimensions of 30 × 34.5 × 34 cm and says the glass containers and accessories are dishwasher-safe. Check the clearance needed around the appliance and whether your dishes will fit.
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This single-basket model may suit you if you usually prepare one part of a meal at a time. Its stated dimensions are 38 × 27.5 × 31.6 cm; the description lists settings from 35 to 200 °C, a timer and eight modes. Allow room around the appliance too, and don’t use its rated power to estimate energy use per meal.
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With a stated capacity of 2 L, this model is suited to smaller portions; check that your usual foods and dishes will fit in the basket. The title lists a 60-minute timer and a non-stick basket. Check the external dimensions, and which specific parts the dishwasher-safe claim applies to.
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The two drawers are described as having independent time and temperature settings, which may suit you if you want to cook a main and a side at the same time. The stated dimensions are 31.5 × 38 × 26.5 cm; also check the clearance needed to remove the drawers. Consult the manual to confirm whether the drawers and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe.
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This model is described as having two drawers with a total capacity of 9.5 L and independent settings for cooking two dishes at once. The description says the drawers and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe. Before choosing this capacity for a small kitchen, compare the dimensions and the space needed to handle the drawers with the room you have.
Not for every meal: the basket’s size and cooking surface limit the amount of food and the dishes it can hold. Before giving up your oven, compare the meals you actually make with the appliance’s usable dimensions.
Two drawers are useful if you often cook different foods at the same time that need different cooking times or temperatures. If you usually prepare one dish, compare the cooking surface of a large single drawer or the configuration of a model with a removable divider instead.
No. You need to compare the same dish and the same quantity. In tests published in 2024, Que Choisir Ensemble found that the air fryers tested used less energy than a mini oven to cook a quiche lorraine; that result doesn’t automatically apply to other dishes and appliances.
Check the manual to see which of the included drawers, racks and accessories are removable and dishwasher-safe. A claim made about a model doesn’t necessarily mean that every part can be cleaned in the same way.